Try-it Tuesday: How to Paint a Washing Machine

**Edit#2: For everyone asking a) what kind of paint I used to paint the washer/polka dots and b) how that paint is holding up, the answers are:

a) on top of the oil-based KILZ primer, I used regular old latex paint in eggshell finish (no protective clear coat on top)

and

b) after 3 weeks and more loads of laundry than I care to remember, it’s holding up great.

Absolutely zero chipping, flaking, or peeling off. I’ve whacked it with the laundry basket, detergent bottle, etc., and it has left a small mark or two, but I don’t know any paint in the world that won’t show marks if you hit it with something hard.

The durability is mostly because of the primer I used, which is 1 part paint, a gazillion parts magic, as far as I can tell, but can also be credited to the fact that I rolled on three very light layers of paint. The lighter the better to keep the paint from globbing up.

Also, it took almost no paint at all. Maybe as much as 1/3 a quart.

If you’ve been hanging around for a while here at 5D5W—and especially if you read last week’s how-to-build-a-house-from-scratch post—then you know that we wrote up custom blue prints for our house.

And I mostly love how everything turned out in terms of layout.

With one notable exception: The Laundry Room (dun dun dun).

I don’t have a true “before” picture for you because it was such a cramped, cluttered nightmare that no one would want to see it anyway.

No, really.

U to the G-L-Y.

In an approximately 7’X10’ space, we had a side-by-side dryer and washer, a utility sink, a water-heater, a mini ironing board, laundry baskets, some unnecessary paraphernalia that had migrated there over time, and, of course, the never-ending mountains of clothes.

It got a lot better before Christmas when we scored a fantastic deal (using the techniques from my retail haggling post + some totally unintentional “good cop/bad cop” action…the salesman thought I was the bad cop—being stand-offish and killing his good deals when all I was really doing was strolling Della around, keeping her happy, and letting my husband do the work! It was fantastic! : )) on a brand new frontloading dryer and used a bracket set to stack it on top of the refurbished frontloading washer we’ve had for 7 years.

It may not look like much, but it’s already so much better because there’s actually an inch or two of floor-space that’s not taken up by some machine or another (the old dryer was where you see that piece of wood).

Okay, so why the laundry room history lesson?

Well, as much as I loved having room to, oh, I don’t know, not have to turn sideways and suck in my gut just to walk into my own laundry room, I wasn’t quite as thrilled about how dingy my washing machine looked next her sparkly new dryer-sister.

And I’ve always wanted to have a colored washer/dryer, but I’m not keen on the prices at all.

So, what’s a DIY-obsessed girl to do?

Paint her washing machine, of course!

Lucky for me, in addition to offering you guys a chance to win a $50 stencil, Cutting Edge Stencils also sent me a stencil to try out.

They included a stencil level and a small foam roller in the package, so all I needed to do was find some paint I liked in the leftovers from our many house projects.

I stumbled across a pretty teal color called Virtue (by Dutch Boy, I think) and some leftover Dover White (Sherwin Williams) in our shed, then grabbed my leftover oil-based Kilz primer that I used to help transform my Quite Coral dresser, and set to work.

Here’s Henrietta (she’s the washer) after a quick coat of primer.

It dries super-fast, so that same night, I started rolling on the teal.

It took three coats, and I used a tiny craft brush to do the detail work around the Kenmore logo and the washer door, but it still didn’t take longer than an hour total to transform the washer from this:

It almost looks shiny in the pic, but believe me…it’s not. (Also, notice the load of whites in there. Yeah. It never ends).

…to this:

(Also, notice I did change the laundry out)

After a brief flirtation with the idea of trying to paint over and re-label the control panels (I even wrote out a diagram just in case), I regained my sanity and decided to leave those black.

I was already loving the change, but I wanted to make Henrietta a bit more fun because, seriously, if you have to do a gazillion loads of laundry, you might as well have something that puts a goofy grin on your face while you’re doing it!

And few things make me smile goofily like polka-dots.

So, I unrolled my stencil and grabbed some painter’s tape and my can of Dover White.

Even though the side of my washer was far from flat (see the ridges that run all the way around the edges?), the stenciling process was a breeze.

I simply followed the instructions from the Cutting Edge Stencils user-friendly video, making sure to roll my paint roller on a paper towel after every time I dipped it in paint.

This step is definitely the most important.

If you have too much paint on your roller, it will drip.

Here she is with the first round done.

Because I used so little paint, I could pull the stencil off, reposition it immediately, and go right back to rolling.

The entire process took maybe 20 minutes, and that includes the fact that I was a bit tentative in round 1, having never used this kind of stencil before.

I actually finished up this part right before we left for Oklahoma. (Please try to ignore the ugly floor smudges. It’s from the rusty washer feet, and I haven’t taken the time to figure out what will clean it best yet. Suggestions?).

And then, I spent another 15 minutes on the front a few days ago, so now she looks like this:

Something about the final product reminded me of something out of Pottery Barn Teen, so I hopped over to see why and came up with this:

and this:

…oh, and this too!:

I think I’ve figured out why PB teen came to mind.

How nice to know that I apparently have a future designing appliances for the enterprising teen who does her own laundry (yeah, right…like I was going to say “his” laundry).

All two of them should sell out in a jiff.

Okay, so I realize it’s a little batty to take a paint roller to your washing machine, but I’m actually loving that the first thing I see when I go in my laundry room is Henrietta, the teal and white polka dot washing machine.

Plus, it was one of the easiest paint projects I’ve ever done, especially the stenciling process, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

In fact, I have a few more stenciling projects in mind with another design that Cutting Edge Stencils included in my package, and you’ll be seeing that and more progress on the laundry room (don’t worry…I’m eighty-sixing the periwinkle walls) very soon.

So, what do you think?

Insane?

Ingenius?

Indifferent?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Also, if you would, tell me this: if there were one thing you could do to make your laundry room a happier place, what would it be?

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266 thoughts on “Try-it Tuesday: How to Paint a Washing Machine”

God I LOVE YOU! lol I’m driving myself nuts trying to find a new washer and dryer that is a fairly skinny depth …. no go in the colors I want. YAY now I know what I’ll be doing this week (or hiring someone else to do for me) New black flat cabinets and doors/trim – grey and black tile, grey walls and red washer dryer … perfect

I was thinking the same thing – DO YOU SLEEP!! You are AMAZING!! And I love, love, love this idea!! I’ve been wanting to do something for both my fridge and stove ’cause they’re aluminum and I have a Country French kitchen. Thank you so much for this post. (I found it on Pinterest!!)

You can use vinegar to clean the feet, if you can remove them I would sock them in vinegar over night, then scrub with wire brush. Rinse off and spray with wd40. For the floor, I’d try windex or magic eraser

I found your page by following the link on littlevictorian.com. I love love love what you did to your washer and dryer! It is fantastic. Great job. If it weren’t for my husband (plain and earth tones taste) I would absolutely do this to my washer and dryer!

I love it. I think it looks amazing. I would love to try this with mines but I’m afraid to mess it up. I know you mentioned that you didn’t apply anything to make it shiny again, so I was wondering if I do this and would like to make it shiny, is it possible? Thanks

Your my kind of gal, You gotta make things around you pleasing. I want to do my frig so bad, it’s the ugliest thing I have ever seen but i haven’t found something I can put on it that i can look at everyday and still love.

Love your washer and dryer! If my machines looked like this maybe it would be easier for to stay up on my laundry. If only I could convince him to let me paint ours… Worth a shot:)xoxoHeatherhttp://www.HeatherlyLoves.com

i LOVE your washing machine!! who ever said that all that stuff has to be WHITE! cant wait to get my ‘washing machine freak on’… meantime i have just painted my daughters wardrobe teal and white dots.. thanks for the inspiration!XXX

Hey Abbie – just wondering how the paint is holding up. Still good?? I’m thinking of doing this to my washer & dryer to dress them up a bit. Gave you a shout-out in my latest post, too. Let me know so I can add this to my ever lengthening to-do list!! lol

I would love to do this but I am thinking my husband wouldn’t be to happy since those and my washer,dryer cost a nice penny…now if they were my old ones the paint couldn’t get on fast enough but since the new ones were pricey not a chance at this time……best of luck and enjoy….

The CSI Project posted this on Facebook.Wow! You’re ambitious! I like the end result, but I must say I don’t think I’d ever paint my washer and dryer. The one thing that would make my laundry room better… a good looking bare chested guy folding my towels! LOL

Love your washer and dryer! If my machines looked like this maybe it would be easier for to stay up on my laundry. If only I could convince him to let me paint ours… Worth a shot:)xoxoHeatherhttp://www.HeatherlyLoves.com

First off, the thing that would make my laundry room better is if it were on the second floor instead of the basement. That said, I think your make over looks fabulous. As you can see from my entry, I’m a big fan of stencils.

Ok, this is AMAZING – you’ve got to know that right? This project would be perfect for our linky party featuring “Transformations” called Repurpose-Remodel-Reveal, I know our readers would love to see it too! (It starts tomorrow- Friday, March 16th 2012 at 7:00 am and reoccures every 1st and 3rd Friday)

I never would have thought of such a thing! That is awesome! The wheels are turning in my head now My most recent addition to my laundry room is Downy Unstoppables, it’s smells soooo good! Not only do my clothes smell great but the whole room smells good. It’s a little pricey but I make my own laundry detergent and stain remover so I decided to splurge and it is so worth it! Give it a try!

My Husband and I are preparing to re-do our Laundry Room/Brewing Room/Sewing Room. I mentioned painting the rusty dryer and old washer. He wasn’t too sure about that idea, but I think he will be now. I’m guessing he won’t dig the polka dots Appreciate the tips on the type of paint!

You may never see this comment…but I will try..this is tooooooooo fun! I painted my washer and dryer with Sharpie pins..and had no idea that anyone else had done it. Mine are old. This is just great…so enjoyed this post…it was sent to me from one of my followers after I posted mine.Great, great job!!Here are mine. http://www.janettessage.blogspot.com/2012/02/diamonds-to-dots.html

It looks fantastic! You did a great job. I did our kitchen back splash many years ago doing this. But I was told I had to use a special primer. Don’t remember the name but it was very sticky. I wore gloves when I did it because it was so sticky. And then any flat paint. It’s still holding on strong and you can’t even tell I painted it!

You did such a great job…love the colors, and the stencil makes it look so easy! I’ve always wondered why appliance makers don’t come out with fun patterns like this…it would make drudge work so much more pleasant! I’d like to paint my dryer like a big colorful semi-ferocious dragon and call it the “Fire-Breathing Sock-Eater”…maybe it would get kids to actually like helping with laundry.

I *love* this idea. I’ve only ever thought of painting my appliances a solid color, but the polka dots are SOOOOO cool. Or maybe chevrons, as hot as they are in fabric. The polka dots are definitely fun, maybe chevrons would be more sophisticated. Lol. For a stenciled appliance. Love this.Thanks for sharing all of your stuff on your blog.Betsy in gray Seattle ‘burbs

This is, without a doubt, the best thing ever!! Swooning over the color and love me some polka dots!! Very creative! Thanks so much for linking this up with Mop It Up Mondays at i should be mopping the floor last week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!{HUGS},kristi

If you haven’t found your solution to the rust stains on the floor, try Bar Keepers friend. You can find it at the grocery store. I used this on my sink that had rust stains and it was amazing! Took everything out with very little effort on my part.

L.O.V.E. IT! I live in an apartment and I get so bummed that there or so many cute decorating ideas that I can’t do… but I just HAPPEN to OWN a full size stacked washer and dryer.. and I am FREAKIN’ EXCITED that I can PAINT THEM THIS EASILY!!!! THANK YOU for the out of the box custom idea!!!!

SUPER CUTE IDEA!!! I painted my kitchen floor~~it was those OLD stick down tiles~~when STICK meant STICK!! I painted it one color and then striped it with a wood grain tool~doing a 3′ x 3′ at a time~doing that in a different shade mixed with a glaze. Then put a clear coat over the whole thing. Still looks good 9 years later!

fantastic idea.. The washing machine looks amazing.. I love the polka dots and the color.. Thanks for linking up! I will be featuring this tonight, grab your featured button if you like and come see other featured projects too..

i just saw this! what a great idea especially for those who have to purchase used washers and dryers!!! i’m going to show it to my husband and see if we can’t do this!!! our laundry area is in the garage, but just seeing this would make doing laundry more enjoyable! thanks for sharing!

Popped over from 52 Mantels because I had to see your washer. I just never have seen anything like it, and I like it. In fact I’m thinking if I name mine maybe I wouldn’t mind doing laundry so much – it’d be like a friend that way right?

Abbie, you never stop amazing me!! This is incredible. I had NO idea this was even possible. I’m definitely inspired. How is it holding up??

Hmm…one thing to make my laundry room happier. I would say a fresh color on the walls. No, scratch that. If I get only ONE thing it would be storage. Lots of delicious storage. Including a spot for hang-to-dry clothes.

I love what you have done to your washer! It makes for a way cuter laundry room, and might even make laundry more fun! We live in a rental apt. at the moment…I get the feeling our landlords wouldn’t be as impressed if I painted the machines! When I do have my own laundry room, I’m taking on this project! Another way to spice up your laundry room (my sister in laws idea) was find a cheap disco ball and hang it in the corner of your laundry room. She says every time she changes the clothes over, it’s like walking into a party! Great post!!

I’ve been contemplating painting mine ever since I saw the painted washer and dryer on Killer B. Designs, but you make it sound so easy that I might just go for it! I can’t believe you did polka dots! So fun!! It turned out great.

OH My! I love this project. I am pinning it! Please link up to my new party- “Cowgirl Up!”. It is a linked linky, so when you post it on my site, your project will appear on 4 different blogs. I know everyone will love this! Thanks for sharing! You always amaze me! http://www.craftytexasgirls.com/2012/02/cowgirl-up-2.html

I repainted a very old, craptastic fridge a little over a year ago. I have bad experience with latex paint on appliances (always get scratches, smudges, stains, etc) so I did mine with a rustoleum spray paint. I didn’t have to bother with the primer, but I did have to drag the fridge out to the yard for painting thanks to the overspray and fume issues. However! Its totally awesome. I also loathe stenciling as its never perfect and I’m a perfectionist, so I just used vinyl wall art stickers from wallsneedlove.com. It never occured to me to spruce up my washer/dryer, which need it oh so badly. Thanks for the inspiration! <3

i love it and it wont wear off if ur just wiping it with a damp cloth, i painted my frig pink a year and a half ago and it looks as good now as it did when i first did it! ps try a magic eraser to get those rust stains off the floor xo thanks for sharing you did a great job!!

My heart melted when I saw this picture on Pinterest. I have a very old chest freezer that could definitely use a makeover like this! I’m going to Cutting Edge Stencils to see what else they have! Thank you!

Wow…that is awesome! I haven’t read through all your comments to see if somebody already suggested this, but for the rust stains on the floor try mixing some baking soda with enough peroxide to make a paste and then scrubbing it on with a sponge….that solution lifted the rust in my dishwasher really well and will probably work for your floor

wow, you probably have the cutest fridge in your neighbourhood… or rather, the world! That is such a neat idea and I never thought of that… hm… *walking around with a roller, teal paint & a scary look in my eye* Great work!-urbane jane

That is totally sweet! I bet you’re ahead of the companies making washing machines! At least I’ve never heard of a washing machine with a design before… I think you came up with the best idea to make a laundry room happier: cheery colors. And polka dots. I just joined your blog, and I am already enjoying your writing style. I couldn’t help but smile myself reading this post!

Ugh. This is BEYOND brilliant! LOVE IT! I’d be thrilled if you’d come and share this (and any other projects you might like to show off) at the Head to Head Showdown link party! It’s all happening right now at http://www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com ~Jen

Completely fabulous!! I pink puffy heart this project! I’ve actually thought to do something similar (but in pink) to my machine but was not sure where to start. This was totally awesome! Seriously…love it…great job.

I truly hate doing laundry but you have inspired me to try this! I love the thought of actually smiling when I have to do such an awful task that never ends. Thank you for sharing such a creative idea!

I love your idea. Actually, I have thought of the same thing, but have not been brave enough to try it. I love how it turned out. The colors are perfect. Did you need to seal the paint to protect against the detergents? Just a thought that I have mulled over. Otherwise you hit a home run.

Now it’s just a matter of time and we will see polka dots, chevron, herringbone, etc on appliances in Lowes and Home Depot! lol! I love it! It’s fun and cheerful! Would love to have you share it at my party…going on now!

I absolutly love this ! I have the ugliest dryer ever ! And my washer/dryer are in my bathroom for the world to see. I am so going to do this. Mine will be red though ! Thanks so much for the inspiration. I am a new follower

I absolutely love your new washing machine look…I would have laughed if someone had told me that a washing machine can be painted. You gave me belief that it is possible to paint an old Expedit Ikea unit to put in my girls room. I guess primer is the key word.

I love your imagination! Wow! One question, though. I’d like to paint my daughter’s bed. It’s wood, with a shiny white (lacquer?) finish. You mentioned that you use Kilz oil based primer… but what KIND of paint do you use? Oil based? Super glossy? Do you brush it on or do you spray it? If you brush… do you get brush marks or do they “level” out? OK – that was more than one question… but you’ve inspired me!

Cute! I’ve never thought about painting and stenciling a washer/dryer. I just wish I had a laundry room. We just have a back entry/laundry/half bath with what seems like eleventy meellion doors in a teeniny space. It is the one thing about this house that makes me cuh-razy. Oh well, at least I can stay inside to do laundry. I would love a laundry/mudroom space that would collect all of the school bags and grocery bags and hats and umbrellas and all the stuff you don’t know where to put. Maybe one day.

Absolutely awesome! Don’t think I ever considered painting a washer/dryer before! Mine are brand new but I’ve been in construction mode for the last two years and they are right in the path of destruction… not looking as fine as they once did. Thanks for this awesome inspiration & I even have that same primer on hand already

I would add teal polka dots to the white washer to pull the pair together. I have to admit, I thought ‘crazy’ when I saw the primer layer, but it turned out really fun! I have a closet in my laundry room that I want to turn into a bench/storage unit one day. I also would love to replace the cabinets. I’ve thought about buying a vinyl decal for my washer/dryer. Maybe this will nudge me in the right direction. Oh and there are plenty of rust removal products that should take those stains off your floor. You can also get a tray that the washer sits in to protect the floor in the future.

I love it!!! Would love to have our own washer/dryer so I could paint it. Hubby already thinks I’ve cracked since I’m about to put contact paper (plastic?) on the dryer. We “borrow” both from the base (he’s military and we’re overseas at the moment) and our dryer is a white eyesore standing in our hall. We’re actually blessed given the fact that it’s not in the basement like a lot of Italian homes.

o, and i would have a folding table with storage! for real i just pile it all up until its over flowing on the dryer and then move it to the bed to fold and put away. i *think* i would fold and up away with a folding table. but then again maybe that would just become overflowing too!

That is SO ingenious and lovely all at the same time…I mean, it’s ONLY a washer/dryer so who cares, right? I think it was worth the craziness and it looks so fun. I don’t think anyone else has thought of such an idea! I hope the paint lasts and makes you smile everytime you do laundry!

That’s fantastic!! I love it! I would have never thought of that, but it turned out soooo awesome I would love to have a utility sink, large counter top and more storage. I also want to bring in a small dresser to keep my kids every day clothes in. We have a 2 story house and I get soooo tired of taking clothes up & down and dashing downstairs every time someone wets their pants Would make my life sooo much easier!

I love what you did. Very nice job! If I could change something in my laundry, I think it would be nice to have wall-hanging cabinets with glass fronts. Right now, I have three open Elfa shelves from the Container Store, but I don’t like how all my cleaning products, craft paints, play-doh and miscellaneous stuff is out in the open.

I would totally paint the dryer too, but she still has a warranty, and I don’t want to void it! Whenever it runs out, you better believe I’ll be getting after her. Oh, and I think her name is Helena! : )

Let me just start by saying Thank you! If I would have tried to explain this to my husband first, he would have thought that I was crazy. Now I can prove that I’m not the only crazy one, and show him how cute it will look in the end =) Love the polka dots, (whether its for PBteen or not ) I’m sure the Jones Design Company would have some super cute pictures to hang in there too . Have a wonderful Tuesday!

ok…i thought you were bat poop crazy at first. but wow…it is super cute. i am going to do the same to the washer/dryer in my garage. you can see them when we hang out in the backyard and it would be hilarous to have them match the red/blue colors of the rest of the patio!

Amazing. I’m jealous as always. My mom has promised me her front loaders “when you get your own house one day”, but for now I’m stuck renting. I love the teal! And it’s probably lucky that I don’t have my own washer/dryer right now bc my man would come home to a whole mess this afternoon. (except I’d probably attempt, and fail, at periwinkle)

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Hi, I’m Abbie, and M is for Mama is an unapologetic ode to messy, maddening, miraculous motherhood. It’s also where I share my favorite non-M-related passions–like thrifting, endless furniture and knickknack rearranging, exercising, baking yummy treats, putting together ridiculously cheap outfits, hot-glue crafting, and typing out my deep (and not-so-deep) thoughts…almost always with one of my 5 children on or near me. I love Jesus, good grammar, and ho-cho (which I don’t get to drink nearly as often as I’d like in the muggy, pine tree forests of East Texas). (I also love parentheses). (Can you tell?). I hope you’ll stick around and share what you love too! Read more here.